Best laptops for students in 2022

What to look for? The essential criteria

Choosing a student laptop can be a pain, especially if you don't know much about it. However, don't worry as this guide will be your north star for getting ready to go back to school! The first step is obviously to identify your needs because there are a multitude of devices for different uses:

For a student, your needs are quite simple: a student laptop must allow you to take notes, carry out research online and store notes and the necessary applications to submit work, while remaining portable. Here is a summarised list on the priorities for a student laptop:

• Bet on a screen that is between 11 and 16 inches, and full HD if it exceeds 12 inches.

• Should have great battery life to last at least a whole day.

• Choose one with a pleasant keyboard as you will spend a lot of time with it. 

• Large enough memory of at least 4-8 GB of RAM. This is the main memory that is used to handle all running processes. The higher the number, the more processes the device can handle simultaneously.

• A CPU (Central Processing Unit) of at least a 2-core processor (Intel Core i3). This is the main processor, which is the heart of the computer and is therefore the most important component. The more units (cores) the main processor has, the more powerful it is.

• Low to medium size graphics card. This receives the information directly from a processor and converts the data into images. For everyday school use, you don't have to rely on a special graphics card

• Should come with a webcam and video recording capability. Both should be included for students to interact with their teachers and classmates if lessons are to be taken remotely.

• Finally, if you have the budget, a faster SSD type hard drive like 128 GB or 256 GB. This is the type of storage most laptops use.

This criteria is suitable for students who will use their laptops for note taking, crearting presentations, surfing the web, and writing dissertations and essays. For computer science, architecture  or graphic design students (who may need heavier software), as well as for engineers, try looking for a more powerful laptop such as:

• Apple MacBook Pro.

• Asus ZenBook range.

• Lenovo IdeaPad.

Regarding the technical characteristics, you should look out for the following:

• An i7 processor.

• A minimum of 8 GB RAM.

• An SSD hard drive.

Now that you have the basics, let's get into the details on the best laptops for students in 2022.

Our recommended best student laptops in 2022

1. Asus Chromebook - prices range from £120 Asus Chromebooks for students on Chrome OS generally have all the goodies of a premium computer, at an affordable price . They have an aluminium chassis, a touchscreen (sometimes) and excellent performance. They are lightweight and self-contained. 

2. Dell Latitude - prices range from £120 Dell student computers are versatile and include everything a student needs with great value for money. If you want high-end, we can't recommend the Dell laptops enough. With its neat design and excellent mobility, it will not disappoint you for many years.  

3. Acer Chromebook - prices range from £79 The Acer Chromebooks are cheap laptops, a return to basics. Particularly suitable for less demanding uses, you will find computers in our Acer range for surfing the web, taking notes and watching videos. Only real downside is the screen, which is not as good as the others. If you love the brand, but want a mid-range alternative, take a look at our Acer Aspire, capable, light and still affordable. 

4. MacBook - prices range from £169If you are more of an Apple fan, choose without hesitation a MacBook or MacBook Air rather than a MacBook Pro. Smooth CPU, light and compact, it fulfils all the criteria (and more) of a computer for students. It also guarantees the security of your data thanks to Touch ID. MacBooks run on the Apple brand's operating system MacOS. 

5. Microsoft Surfaces - prices range from £160 The Microsoft Surface Pro is the top choice for students. It is a 2-in-1 hybrid PC, which provides all the advantages of a laptop PC and a tablet. Lightweight, compact, with a premium keyboard, it's perfect for on the go.

Other honourable mentions:

• HP Chromebooks.

• Huawei Matebook.

Whatever your choice, the models listed in this article will not disappoint you and the budget will not be an issue as all of our products are 30% to 70% cheaper when you go for a refurbished laptop instead of buying new. You also do your bit for saving the planet from e-waste!  

Get a further 5% off on the entire catalogue! Students benefit from using 5% promo code on the entire Back Market site, get your promo code here!

Laptop, PC or tablet?

The advantage of the laptop is that the screen and the keyboard are already included. Nonetheless, it's worth investing in some extra gear if you're going to be sitting in front of the laptop for a long time. 

What is the advantage of a laptop for a student? 

• Due to its size, the laptop can be taken to school and used in different places at home. This flexibility speaks in favour of a laptop, especially in small student dorms and apartments where there might be no fixed place for the computer.

What is the benefit of a desktop PC for a student? 

• The advantage lies in the longevity of the desktop PC, since its components can be modified - unlike a laptop. So you can keep a state-of-the-art PC for a long time for little money. 

What is the advantage of a tablet?

• They're unbeatable when it comes to portability, as they slip into your backpack, tote bag, or hand bag like a textbook.

• Long battery life that is comparable to laptops.

Disadvantages of a tablet for students are:

• Tablets work with applications that cannot always be fully compared with desktop software.

• Operation via the touchscreen can sometimes make it difficult to work smoothly with the tablet, especially when working with different programs at the same time. For example when creating a Powerpoint presentation, it is not so easy to write, research and create the presentation with the tablet when compared to a laptop.

We recommend a tablet for younger students as the apps make it easier to use, or as an additional tool to support your workflow on the laptop or desktop computer.

What equipment do I need for a PC?

If you choose a desktop PC, you shouldn't forget to buy the right equipment: 

• Monitor: Ensure a display resolution of 1280 x 1024 pixels and a minimum screen size of 14 inches.

• Mouse and keyboard: must be purchased separately

There are also all-in-one desktop computers, such as the iMac, but you still need to buy a mouse and keyboard to use them. There is also the possibility to buy a refurbished keyboard here, because nowadays everything can be refurbished :) 

With a laptop, everything is more or less included. However, if you are looking for more comfort, you can also buy a separate monitor, keyboard and mouse for greater productivity. The investment is always worthwhile, especially if you spend intensive hours on the laptop. 

An important point that is often forgotten is the purchase of productivity software such as Windows Office, which includes programs such as Excel, Word or Powerpoint. This aspect is particularly important for all students. The operating system (whether Mac iOs or Windows) is usually included in the price.

Last word on student laptops

Finding the right computer for a student isn't always easy, but with the basic knowledge we've covered here, you're now well prepared for the challenge. If you take these three points into account, then nothing stands in the way of purchasing your next student laptop:

• Make sure the computer possesses the right performance to help you carry out your daily student needs. 

• Consider buying a refurbished PC to not only do something good for nature, but also for your wallet.

• Remember that you may still have to buy accessories such as a mouse, keyboard or software.